4. Matthew 28:1
Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.

5. Matthew 28:2
And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.

6. Matthew 28:3
And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

7. Matthew 28:4
The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.

8. Matthew 28:5
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.

9. Matthew 28:6
He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.

10. Matthew 28:7
Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead;

11. Matthew 28:7
and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”

12. Matthew 28:8
And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.

16. Jesus Christ Fulfilled The First Fruits Offering!

18. As we paused to remember Holy Week and the Spring Feasts, we’ve recognized Who and what it was always about, Jesus Messiah our Passover Lamb.

19. He was sinless, without spot of blemish, our sacrifice and the source of the blood over the doorpost of our lives as we continue to come out of our Egypt.

20. He was wrapped in a linen cloth and laid in a tomb that was undefiled by death.

21. Three days and three nights later, He would raise conquering death and the grave.

22. Today we celebrate the resurrection, which is the pinnacle of the Passover story with the biblical celebration of First Fruits.

23. The Feast of First Fruits is a day that God had long before instructed us to observe.

24. We can now see it in its fullness with the resurrection of Jesus Messiah.

25. This appointed day was always on the first day of the week.

26. Leviticus 23:10
Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, “When you enter the land which I am going to give you and reap its harvest,

27. Leviticus 23:10
then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest to the priest.

28. Leviticus 23:11
He shall wave the sheaf before the Lord for you to be accepted; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.

29. Leviticus 23:12
Now on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb one year old without defect for a burnt offering to the Lord.”

30. When Jesus (Yahshua) arose from the dead, He became the First Fruits offering.

31. He presented Himself to His Father as a wave offering and a male without defect, offered as a sacrifice and presented on the day after the Sabbath.

32. John 20:17
Jesus said unto her, “Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father!”

33. So why didn’t He want her to touch Him?

34. If we read a little further in John 20, we see Jesus appearing to His disciples and encouraging them to leave no doubt that He is Who He says He is.

35. He even appears to Thomas some eight days later and says, “Reach here

36. John 20:26-28
And after eight days again His disciples were inside, and Thomas with them.

37. John 20:26-28
Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst, and said, “Peace be with you.”

38. John 20:26-28
Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side;

39. John 20:26-28
and be not unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

40. So what must have happened between the time that Mary saw Him by the tomb and Jesus appeared to His disciples later that same day?

42. I Corinthians 15 declares that Jesus (Yahshua) is indeed our First Fruits offering.

43. I Corinthians 15:20
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who are asleep.

44. I Corinthians 15:21
For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.

45. I Corinthians 15:22
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

46. When Jesus (Yahshua) arose from the dead, He became the First Fruits offering.

47. He presented Himself to His Father as a wave offering and a male without defect, offered as a sacrifice and presented on the day after the Sabbath.

48. After presenting Himself to the Father He returns to the earth to inspire His disciples and others with the proof of His resurrection.

49. But was Jesus (Yahshua) the only part of the First Fruits offering or could their have possibly been more to the story?

50. Let’s take a closer look at Matthew 27 along with a few other passages to see if there could be more to the story.

51. Matthew 27:50
And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

52. Matthew 27:51
And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.

53. Matthew 27:52
The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;

54. Matthew 27:53
and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.

55. I think we can learn a little bit more about what was taking place if we take a quick look at I Peter 3 and Ephesians 4.

56. I Peter 3:18
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God,

57. I Peter 3:18
having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

58. I Peter 3:19
in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison,

59. I Peter 3:20
who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark,

60. I Peter 3:20
in which a few, that is eight persons, were brought safely through the water.

61. Do you remember the story of Lazarus and the rich man found in Luke 16:19-31?

62. Let’s take a little time and refresh our memories.

63. Luke 16:19-31
Now there was a certain rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, gaily living in splendor every day.

64. Luke 16:19-31
And a certain poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich

65. Luke 16:19-31
man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. Now it came about that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to

66. Luke 16:19-31
Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and

67. Luke 16:19-31
Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in

68. Luke 16:19-31
water and cool off my tongue; for I am in agony in this flame.” But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your life you received your

69. Luke 16:19-31
good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you

70. Luke 16:19-31
there is a great chasm fixed, in order that those who wish to come over from here to you may not be able, and that none may cross from there to

71. Luke 16:19-31
us. And he said, “Then I beg you, Father, that you send him to my father’s house – for I have five brothers – that he may warm them, lest they also

72. Luke 16:19-31
come to this place of torment.” But Abraham said, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.”

73. Luke 16:19-31
But he said, “No, Father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!” But he said to him, “If they do not listen to

74. Luke 16:19-31
Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.”

75. Wow! How true is that?

76. Jesus testified of Moses and the Prophets.

77. He challenged the religious leaders to repent and get back to what God (Yahovah) originally intended.

78. He even rose from the dead, but many still would not listen.

79. Now let’s head over to Ephesians 4 to connect a few more pieces of the puzzle.

80. Ephesians 4:7
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

81. Ephesians 4:8
Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.”

82. Ephesians 4:9
(Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?

83. Ephesians 4:10
He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fulfill all things.)

84. Do you remember the sign of Jonah found in Matthew 12?

85. Matthew 12:40
For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

86. Notice that it didn’t say in the grave, but in the heart of the earth
Notice that it didn’t say in the grave, but in the heart of the earth. He indeed descended.

87. He not only preached a sermon to those alive during the time of Noah, but He also crossed over the chasm in Abraham’s bosom and took captivity captive and brought them to the Father!

88. And now we know that Hebrews 12 is true
And now we know that Hebrews 12 is true. There is indeed a great crowd of witnesses cheering us on to run this amazing race called life.

89. Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin

90. Hebrews 12:1-2
which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,

91. Hebrews 12:1-2
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

92. And what about Galatians 2:20?

93. Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,

94. Galatians 2:20
who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.

95. Passover without First Fruits and Unleavened Bread, would be a sacrifice without a point.

96. But Jesus (Yahshua) paid the price and arose from the dead, which shows us that we can walk without the leaven of the world and have a new beginning.

97. This is a New Year, a new beginning, and a new walk.

98. Jesus the Messiah has made it all possible.

99. Be sure to hold on to this reality as you move forward in your own personal journey with Him.

100. Celebrate His Resurrection and live your life as a wave offering before the Father!

103. Amen!